Plumber s clamp



QNo Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet l.

E. W. HARDING.

PLUMBBRS GLAMP.-

NO. 356,937. Patented Feb. 1, 1887l a @N/moose@ All" (No Modem 3Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. W. HARDING.'

PLUMBERS CLAMP.

N0. 356,937. Patented Feb. l, 1887.

PETERS Pmtu-Lnhognphen Wuhmgim, n c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. W. HARDING.

PLUMBBRS CLAMP.

No. 356,937. Patented Feb. l, 1887.

IHM

N PETERS, Promumegupmr. whingsm D. C.

ilnrrs drains EDVARD XV. HARDING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PLUMBERS CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,937, dated February1, 1887.

Application tiled May 3, 1836. Serial No. 201,026. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eemian W. Hermine, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in PlumbersClamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices known asplumbers clamps, 7 such clamps being especially adapted to hold pipes7cocks, and couplings in place while the joints are being made by theapplication of solder around the same,by the process commonly known as'\viping,7 in which it is necessary for the work man to have i'reeaccess to all parts of the joint, and the pipes for a short distanceeach side of the joint, thus compelling the holding devices to be placedat a distance therefrom.

The object of tbepresentinvcntion is to furnish the trade with a clampthat shall be portable, cheap, and capable of holding in position forwiping all the various cocks, couplings, and. pipes in common use.

To this end the invention consists in the construction of a series ofmovable and adjustable clamps secured to a light-framework, which may beplaced upon a work-bench or other support, all as hereinafter fullydescribed, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of theapparatus. showing the parts arranged to clamp a straight pipe, While abranch projecting at right angles and an ordinary cock are shown indotted lines held in position forjoining to the main pipe. Fig. 2 is aperspective showing the adjustment of clamps to hold an elbow inposition to connect with a main pipe. Fig. 3 isa side View, partly insection, of one ofthe brackets to which the clamps are attached, showingits construction. Fig. 4 is aside View of the de vices as arranged forholding a cock in position for connection with a vertical pipe, and

Fig. 5 is a like view, illustrating the method of holding anelbow-coupling in position to connect with the end of a pipe.

Similarletters of reference indicate like parts in all these figures.

A A represent two metal brackets, each of which is Lshaped, and isprovided with a projecting arm, A', secured to the rstnamed part bymeans of the bolt and nut a., and suitable projections or steadypins,c', which enter recesses formed in the arm for their reception.Connecting these brackets is a bar, B, which may be of wood or metal,and is secured to the upright arm of the brackets by screws or othersuitable means, so that the whole forms a rectangular frame which may beplaced upon a Work-bench or in any other position found most convenient.

Each of the arms A is provided with a longitudinal slot, b, in which areplaced the clamps C. These clamps are preferably formed with a curvedholdingjaw approximating to the form oi' the pipe to be held by them,and moving freely in the slots of the arms, so that they may be adjusted to any desired point in its length and there secured by theset-screw b,which has its joint bearing against the under side of one ofthe arms A.

At the junction of the arms A with thevertical portion of the brackets Aare formed the rectangular openings D, three sides of said openingsbeing formed by the bracket and the fourth by the slotted arm A. Vithinthese openings are secured the extension-bars D, carrying upon one endthe four -jawed screwclamp composed ofthe parts E and E', the part Ebeing firmly attached to or a part of the bar D. The movable part E isprovided With a guide-a1m,i,which passes through an orifice in the partE and rests in a groove, It', formed in the bar D, each of the jaws ofsaid cla-mp having a different Width of opening from the others, toenable them to grasp and hold firmly cocks or couplings of varyingsizes, the said extension-bar being retained in any desired positionwithin the opening D' by turning down the nut on bolt c, thus bringingthe arm A rmly down upon the upper surface of the bar D, and thusclamping said arm in the opening.

Attached to the bar B by means of a set- IOC screw, c, is one or morestandards, F. The`upper ends of these standards have an extension, F',at right angles to the upright part of the standard. A slot, (l, isformed in this upright part, and also in the extension, through whichpasses the setscrew c', firmly securing to the standard in any desiredposition the cla-mp G, operated by the screw c. This standard Eisadjustable to any point desired along thebar B, and by means of theright-angled slot in its upper part the clamp G is made adjustable toany position needed to receive and hold a branch pipe, cock, orcoupling, which it may be desired to connect with a pipe held bytheclamps C. By means of these three adjustable clamps the apparatus isenabled to hold in the desired position nearly all the parts joinedtogether in the plumbing of a house or vessel.

The operation of the several devices being as follows: Suppose it bedesired to unite two pieces of pipe, H H', at the point shown by thedotted line c in Fig. l, the apparatus is set uponA a bench, or in anyother desired position with proper support, the two pieces of pipe, as HH', are laid across the arms A and se cured by the clamps C, the ends tobejoined are brought together, as shown, and the melted solder employedin making wiped joints ap plied in the usual manner.

If it be desired to connect a branch to a main pipe, the latterwill beheld by the clamps C upon the arms A', and thebranch, asf, held inproper relation to the main pipe by the clamp G. Should it be desired toinsert a cock, as g, into said main pipe, the downwardly-bent portionmay be held in one of the jaws of the clamp E E', attached to the end ofthe extension-bar D, which is passed'through one of the openings D untilthe cock is brought to the desired position with relation to the pipe,when the bar may be rmly iiXed by screwing down the nut upon the bolt a,causing the arm j A' to impinge upon the upper surface of the bar andhold it firmly in place.

In Fig. 2 the clamp G is shown holding an elbow-pipe in place forforming a junction with a straight horizontal main pipe.

In Fig. i the main pipe is shown heldin a vertical position by the clampE upon the end of the extension-arm, while a cock is retained in placeto be joined with said main pipe by the clamp G, to make a connectionwith the end of a pipe lying across the arms A and re t Vtained thereonby clamps C. It willbe further enough has been given to show theiradapta- V bility to the purpose for which they are intended.

I am aware that several clamping devices have been invented intended toaccomplish the result attained by the one herein described, among themthose shown in the patents of Hunt, July 4, 1882, Drummond, September25, 1883, andDiXon, November 6, 1883. Ido not, therefore, broadly claima pipe-holding device intended to hold pipes in position while makingthe joints, but limit my claims to the special devices herein shown anddescribed for accomplishing that object.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following:

1. A plumbers clamp consisting of' the brackets` A, arms A', and bar B,in combina tion with standard F, clamps CG, and bar D, with its attachedfour-jawed clamp, all arranged for joint operation in the manner shownand described.

2, In a plumbers clamp, `the brackets A, having rectangular openings D',,in combination with the arms A', extension-bar D, and four-jawed clampE, as set forth.

3. 'Ihe combinationof the standard F, having the rightwangled extensionF' and slot d, with the adjustable clamp G, secured to the standard bythe screw c', and the bar B, on which said standard is adj ustablysecured, as and for the purpose stated.

4. The brackets A and slotted arms A', attached to said brackets, incombination with the clamps-G, constructed as shown, and made adjustablein the slots of said arms, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD IV. HARDING Witnesses:

F. I-I. SCHOTT, M. A. BALLINGER.

